BANGOR, Maine — After 62 years of doing business through agents in Bangor, Greyhound Lines is moving its local ticket sales operation to Dysart’s Truck Stop & Restaurant in Hermon.
Peter Brountas, whose family has served as Greyhound agents since 1950, said Wednesday that Bangor Bus Terminal was notified of the change, effective April 16, through a certified letter that arrived on Tuesday.
“It’s my understanding that this is part of a nationwide effort to cut costs,” said Brountas, who followed in the footsteps of his father, Arthur Brountas, and uncle George Brountas when he began selling bus tickets for Greyhound at the age of 14.
In recent years, Greyhound has been shifting its ticket sales operations from traditional terminal settings to less expensive options, including truck stops and gas stations, he said.
“They did it in Waterville,” he said.
In 2010, Greyhound moved its operations to J & S Oil on Kennedy Memorial Drive from its former location at Waterville’s Robert LaFleur Airport, according to a press release on its corporate website.
The company’s website has numerous press releases about similar changes in other cities throughout the nation.
The Bangor Bus Terminal is located in a highly visible spot in downtown Bangor at the corner of Main and Union streets. It is handy to the Community Connector hub at Pickering Square, the Concord Coach Lines terminal on Union Street, Bangor International Airport and several taxi companies.
It was not immediately clear if shuttle service would be offered from those locations to Dysart’s.
Brountas said it isn’t yet clear what he will do with the soon-to-be-vacated space in the building, which also houses the Main Tavern, among other things. He did not reject the notion of an expansion of the tavern, which has karaoke four nights a week and has a DJ on a fifth night, but neither did he confirm that.
With downtown Bangor in the midst of a revival and new entertainment offerings such as the Waterfront Concert Series now available, Brountas said he is considering a range of options.
“We have a few ideas,” he said. “This does give us new opportunities we have never had.”
This is really no big suprise, greyhound has been talking for years on this not just recently
Thank gosh for Concord Coach Lines!
I use concord out of Augusta its much faster an they have plenty of free parking . I don’t know how many grayhound places that do have parking now i know they don’t in waterville
Hitchhike with the 18-wheelers?
now low income individuals like myself will have to cab to Hermon to buy a damn ticket that costs more than the cab fare to and from bangor?!!
Do they offer phone purchases or online purchases? You think they would, especially now if they’re moving out to Hermon.
take concord insted
Think of it as a incentive to get a better job? That is exactly what Greyhound is doing. Unlike the gov who simply raise taxes when they come up short those us us who own business have X amount of income to do what needs to be done. We budget and save where we can or we go out of business.
Seriously? What about disabled people, should they look for better jobs?
nah they should hobble out to Dysarts… That would fit with his line of thinking anyway…
I hope they can’t claim you’re buying a ticket to Bangor, anymore, then.
Dysart’s address is Bangor, Maine. At Dysarts, Hermon is actually Hampden which is actually Bangor. So Greyhound will still keep the Bangor address just that it will be Dysarts Bang/Her/Ham… he he.
Dysarts is considered Hermon address
How about clean up the whole building now and open something like Port City Music Hall. Right across the street from PT, it would give both sides of the street entertainment choices as well as Zen. Possible names: Queen City Music Hall (of course) or Union Station Music Hall or…
(dream big) (… or at least bigger)
Anyone remember Club Metro and Club Miami downtown in the early nineties? They didn’t survive, but I believe they probably would today.
As much as people long for a true club for Bangor’s downtown area, it just won’t happen. there are several reasons all clubs like Metro, Roxy, and Miami failed but the key reason is parking. The parking garage operating hours excludes all night time businesses because of the operating hours. It’s always been this way. Bangor doesn’t want a large club downtown and does everything it can to run night time businesses out of the downtown area. just look at the number of times Benjamins has changed owners. Or even better go ahead and ask the former owners of the whig and courier how inviting Bangor was to them…
Nowadays those same clubs would be doomed simply by the trouble caused by bath salts and the increased crack cocaine/pills trade that is growing larger by the month in Bangor. I for one am very glad to see the greyhound station closing and moving out to dysarts. Anyone low income that wants a ticket can shop one for free online at the library and quit your whining about having to take a cab out to dysarts ad buy it there… that last wasnt really for Terence 2010, just for a few other posters I read yapping about their so called inconvienence… It’s the 21st century people, we have the technology and public areas that provide both the tech and the free wifi…
The Whig and Courier created their own problems, it wasnt the citys fault!!!
What a great idea (not being sarcastic, I’d love it personally) !
That’s a great idea! I’m not being sarcastic, I actually would love to see a small/medium live venue in downtown Bangor!
That would be a huge mistake. Vandalize vehicles at Dysart’s and they’ll probably never make it to the police car.
If thats true than how come vehicles in Augusta at concord have not been vandalized on long term parking i know mine was ok when i got back from my 12 day trip .
What I meant was that they will probably get a little instant justice if they vandalize vehicles at Dysart’s. That is why they would never make it to a police car.
PRAISE JESUS! Hermon can now transport those who arrive to local hospitals…. oh, and maybe they can open a few methadone clinics for starters!
Maybe Brontas could clean that eye sore up and catch up w/ 2012 now
I remember that block used to have a larger building on it.. Maybe it’ll be another vacant lot some day for parking…
I’m thrilled that the Grey Hound dump will be moving out of town. Rather than expand the Tavern, I’d love to see the owners take this opportunity to shut it down permanently and make their property into something nice.
I can’t imagine why the folks at Dysart’s see this as a smart business move. And I’ve always wondered why Greyhound would want such a dumpy station representing their brand.
They see it as smart move because the buses can fuel up there (money), the passengers can buy food there (money) and they have maintenance garage nearby if needed (money)
And passengers don’t need to be scared of the gin mill next door. Imagine dropping off your kid there or worse, picking him/her up…
As the parent of a college student that has ridden the bus home, I am in 100% agreement! I was more scared of the local drunks/druggies than I was of anyone he’d be on the bus with! That place sure hasn’t changed! We were scared to get too close even back when I was in high school in the mid 80’s!
Oh, and maybe the Filibuster Lounge will take on new patrons… or Dysart’s planning to open their own place for the transients to hang out!!
Yeah, it is all about Greyhound wanting to save a few dollars. Too bad Dysart’s has not realized that few people will want to go to a truck stop outside Bangor to be picked up.
Dysart’s will be selling the tickets just like J&S oil dose in Waterville an other stores an trucks stops do
sounds like to me more money to then and anyone that takes the bus ,may stop to eat something when they are there and anyone who may have dropped them offf????
I agree. The Tavern is nothing but a dive and an eyesore on Maine Street. Sure are a lot of police calls to that place according to the ploice beat news.
Dysarts is a nice Maine business, I hope they keep it that way. I frequent the restaurant with my family, I hope we are not going to have to walk through the Greyhound crowd I see downtown. If your reading Tim, hope you do the right thing.
You are thrilled that there will be no bus service in downtown Bangor? Have fun going out to Herman, Hampden, whatever… if you want to go to Augusta, Waterville, or Lewiston. I do not think CCT goes to those towns. Dysarts is not a smart business move. Apparently, you do not get it.. Greyhound does not care and neither to you about downtown Bangor. I am a Bangorian and I do care.
Yes , transporting people to the shelter is a problem to be worked out.
Perhaps Bangor can start up a shuttle for the clients.
Bus station – shelter – methadone clinic – welfare office would be the route.
It would be convenient and preserve the clients dignity.
Perhaps a shuttle service can be set up for $ 400,000 or $500,000.
For the first 6 months.
Hey sounds like a real money maker to me…let’s ride the gravy boat! (For those with no sense of humor, please note the sarcasm)
There is the way more welfare. Do not tell the addicts not to do drugs but spend more money taking them to get more treatment at our expense. That is always the liberal answer spend taxpayer money to solve peoples stupid choices.
I wonder if Cyr has plans to continue hooking up with Greyhound for their Aroostook run or whether they’ll just go with Concord Coach? (Cyr presently connects with both Greyhound and Concord, but now that Greyhound is moving so far away….?)
I wonder if Cyr will continue to Dysarts, this is bad move especially for the people that can not easily get to Dysarts. They would of been better off locating in Bangor closer to I95.
People without cars use bus transportation, so now how will those people get to Dysarts? This sounds like a prescription for going out of business in the Bangor area.
Exactly!
The McGuire building features some beautiful architecture and sits in a prime historic spot. Maybe the New Waverly and The Tavern can join forces and consolidate down at the NW’s place?
I hope Dysart’s wasn’t asleep when they made the deal. Their truckstop will turn into a “dumping site” for scumbags traveling to Bangor. Maybe, after awhile, Dysart’s will provide “FREE” transportation to Bangor in an effort to rid the transients!!
When I’ve been a passenger on intercity bus services (especially Concord’s coastal route), I have found the bus filled with a diverse mix of passengers: lower-income folks, college students, wealthier patrons connecting to larger transport hubs, and people who have decided for whatever reason that they simply don’t want to be tethered to the expense and hassle of car ownership.
One might find it interesting that these “scumbags” and “transients” using the bus are paying much more of their fair share of highway use than you are in your private automobile.
Well said, waldo. The stereotyping of public transportation users here is shameful.
Bangor needs a central hub where the BAT bus, Concord bus, Cyr bus and Greyhound can all connect. It doesn’t have to be next to the Tavern, but it should be within walking distance of downtown, with good lighting, upkeep and security.
Ive always thought the airport would make a good “hub” for Concord, Greyhound, and the Community Connector. Although its not walking distance from downtown, a frequent shuttle would solve that. Bangor’s Downtown is small, the local buses barely fit as it is, and try driving main street when Greyhound is pulling in.
Look at Boston, or more realistically, Portland. Concord and Amtrak use the same facility and the METRO bus comes every 2o minutes. Greyhound is a couple miles away.
Agreed Bangor does need a downtown terminal. I would rather have my child picked up in downtown Bangor then at a truck stop. Next to the Tavern is much better then Dysarts in my opinion.
Seriously…
Dysart’s was definitely a sleep at the deal and the wheel. -:)
Making it harder to get to the center of the city will eventually cut down on the people you are discussing. Years ago Portsmouth, NH changed the bus terminal from the middle of town to a back portion of Pease airbase. You have to get to it from I-95. I don’t know how anyone without a ride gets to or from the terminal.
There are no people hanging around the station, and no place to easily walk. A problem Bangor has had for over a century is that it is the end of the line. And, is full (from the descriptions I read on BDN) of services for people with problems. If you build the services, they will come. If they can’t get there, they won’t.
OMG, the tavern will be expanding. If you have not been to Dysarts lately, you will be surprised at the new prices. They don’t involve themselves in the Lion’s club coupon books or any other deal to draw folks in while supporting local causes. Since David passed, it not like it used to be.
OMG Dysert’s will be expanding… Does anyone really know what town Dysart’s is in. I would not want my kid being picked up at a truck stop.
The picture portrays a very sad looking place. Years ago it did not look like this. Is it across the street from the Bangor House? It is not very passenger friendly to move the terminal to Hermon.
The only thing sad is that there will be no bus station in downtown Bangor.
I see this move to Hermon as a double edged sword.
In the last year I have ridden Greyhound round trip to California and back twice. That’s right, almost 15,000 miles and 20 days on the road in a seat that is much less than comfortable. I could have swallowed my pride, surrendered my rights and flown, but it is my belief that patronizing any business that demands you surrender your personal rights and freedoms before allowing you to utilize their services is a business that has grown too big for its britches anyway.
Most, not all, but most of Greyhound’s major transfer and hub points are located in the shabbiest sections of the cities they serve. I for one do not think this move is out of character for Greyhound at all. It is in business to make a profit and their locations, customer service and staff attitudes reflect just such thinking.
Most stops are not within walking distance to any other facilities for eating or any other conveniences. They rape you repeatedly for food services as you have no other options on long hauls. Try paying $6 to $9 for a greasy burger, $2 to $3 for thin watered down coffee and using restrooms where I swear to God, most of the male patrons are either blind or just plain terrible shots.
Bangor has become a dumping ground for those with no where else to go as it is the very end of the Greyhound service route North from NYC and from Boston and Bangor’s civic leaders should be over joyed to see this company move it’s “deadbeat” drop off to a point outside the city, perhaps even going to the point of having a “Lets Help Them Move” event.
As for convenience, I currently have to travel over 60 miles to even reach the station and for me Dysarts is as easy as it comes.
The only really positive information that I am able to offer from my experiences traveling Greyhound, is the price and the preservation of my personal rights and those are priceless. I’ll take Greyhound anyway as they are currently the only transcontinental bus service available and I can rest assured that my “junk” will not be fondled in the name of security.
What a crazy society we live in, supposed to have free speech…yet when you post a comment that is true it gets flagged for review and disappears from BDNs website…. Bangor is the last stop for Greyhound and does get “transients” from Boston/NYC that end up at the homeless shelter, so now how will they get from Dysart’s to Bangor… I don’t care to go with my family to the restaurant anymore if people just hanging around like that!
Dysart’s Truck Stop & Restaurant in Hermon.
Greyhound leaving Bangor Bus Terminal, moving to Dysart’s
how do u find it
is it on the road to the. machias saving bank?
how do i find it
whaT, CAB? NUMBER I HAVE CAR
wetwildbear@yahoo.com
Because Bangor has been known to be the end of the line for Greyhound and all the southern cities send their troublemakers to Bangor…. Now Hermon will have to have a methadone clinic, homeless shelter, WIC center, DHS office, free legal advice clinic, supermarket for EBT, provide general assistance, low income housing, transient housing…
Maybe now we can take back Bangor and begin to clean up the city, of course with the good work of Governor LePage.
Note the irony of the picture. The Bangor Area Transportation bus waiting for the light in the background. Having a major transportation service within walking distance from the local public transportation just makes sense. Greyhound’s Boston stop is South Station. There is plenty of unused space in the fenced off section directly under Pickering Garage. Why not retrofit that space for a terminal and have the Greyhounds leave from there?
Most major cities have a bus station located in a downtown area like South Station in Boston, MA. Now Bangor has no bus station in its downtown area. How is this a good idea moving Greyhound to Hermon, Hampden? The fact that people do not know what town Dysart’s is in is very telling…. Quite frankly, this is this stupidest business decision I have ever heard of. The fact is that Greyhound is trying to save a few dollars and Dysart’s apparently has not thought through the fact that people are not going to go travel out to Hermon, Hampden to take a bus . The only people this hurts is the people of Bangor who now have no downtown bus terminal. I have always believed that every city deserves a downtown bus station. Thanks Greyhound for leaving the driving to us…..
That would actually be a very bright idea… so of course it won’t happen.
I commend the Brountas Family for running the terminal for 60+ years. It has been a civic function and good for the community. They are hard working people and give their time from before Sunrise to late at night to keep the terminal open for very little pay. The town should throw a party for them thanking them for keeping a local terminal for 50+ years before another bus line came to town. As for the Tavern, I was there last Saturday night and there was a terrific crowd of college students and other locals enjoying the music and conversation. We should support local businesses like this and hard working people. As far as Greyhound, Corporate America needs Main Street more then they realize.